This week’s ‘Loan View’ sees us catch up with defender Owen Dodgson who is spending the 2023/24 season on loan at Barnsley
Owen Dodgson believes he is reaping the rewards of playing regular first team football and described the loan move so far as a ‘huge learning experience’
The 20-year-old joined Barnsley on a season-long-loan deal on transfer deadline day and has featured eight times in League One since the move.
Speaking to Burnleyfootballclub.com, Dodgson highlighted the importance of playing first team football with the Yorkshire side and the benefit of learning from experienced teammates and opponents.
The full-back said: “I’m properly enjoying it here. It’s a great group of lads, good club with great fans it’s good to be playing regular football in League One.
“Still being a young player, it’s useful to be learning from some of the experienced quality players in the team that we have here and one’s we come up against.
“For myself as a defender, you always want a challenge and I enjoy taking on challenges. I have played some tricky fast wingers and as a defender that’s what you want to test yourself against
“I think the age I am now, it’s beneficial to be getting first team football and getting as many games and minutes under my belt as possible and keep improving.
“It’s a huge learning experience being on loan and I feel like I am constantly learning and playing against some really strong teams and players in this league can only benefit me in the long run.”
Dodgson made his debut for the Tykes just four days after signing against Grimsby Town and the defender scored a goal in Barnsley’s 2-0 win over the Mariners.
The Lancaster-born youngster says he wanted to ‘make an impact’ on his debut for the Club and that’s exactly what Dodgson did.
“It was a nice feeling. That was one thing I wanted to come in and make an impact on my debut and I think I did that.
“The games I have played since I feel like I have done quite well and been training well, I just have to keep at it as the season goes on.”
Neil Collins’ Barnsley side currently sit 5th in the play-off positions in League One and Dodgson says the aim is go ‘one step further’ than last season after the Reds lost in the play-off final at Wembley.
“As soon as I came into the Club, we agreed on whether it be automatic promotion or playoffs but we need to do better.
“The Club did really well last season reaching the final, but this year we want to go that step further and that’s the mentality within the whole team.”
